Bloodshed on Benin-Ore Road: Driver Killed,Three Abducted in Bus Ambush

​BENIN CITY — A coordinated manhunt is underway in the thick forests bordering Edo and Ondo states after suspected kidnappers attacked a commercial bus, killing the driver and whisking three passengers into captivity.

​The incident, which occurred late Sunday afternoon near the Iguobazuwa axis of the Lagos–Benin Expressway, has prompted the Edo State Police Command to deploy tactical teams, anti-kidnapping units, and local vigilantes to the area.

​The Ambush

​Eyewitness accounts and a viral video of the aftermath depict a scene of terror. The victims were traveling in a GUO Transport Company bus (Registration No. FA 280 YJ) from Lagos toward the eastern part of the country.

​As the vehicle approached the Iguobazuwa stretch around 6:00 PM, gunmen emerged from the treeline and opened fire. The driver, whose identity has been withheld pending family notification, was fatally shot while attempting to navigate the ambush. With the vehicle halted, the assailants dragged three passengers into the bush.

​Rescue and Response

​The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed on Tuesday that one female passenger was rescued during the initial police response. She had sustained gunshot wounds during the melee and is currently responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

​“Following a swift police response, one female passenger who sustained gunshot injuries was rescued and immediately rushed to the hospital,” Ikoedem stated. She confirmed that the driver’s body has been deposited at a mortuary, while the bullet-riddled bus has been recovered as evidence.

​Intensified Search

​Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has ordered all divisional heads along the Ore–Benin axis to commence “rigorous and coordinated” rescue operations.

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​“The Command remains resolute and will not relent until the victims are safely rescued and the criminals brought to justice,” the CP assured, urging commuters and residents to provide timely information that could lead to the kidnappers’ hideout.

​The Benin-Ore expressway, a vital artery for Nigerian commerce, has seen a resurgence of insecurity in recent weeks, leading to renewed calls for permanent security outposts within the boundary forests.